.......... But the main thing is this...the very first show I went to when my hot rod was ready was where I met a guy who has become a very close friend and then I made even more friends and we all rod in together when we can. That's what it's about.

What I would really love to do is drive from Salt Lake City to your neck of the woods. I would really love to see the Coker museum, and then pop into a few cruise nights in Tennessee.

This is truly a beautiful part of the country. If you ever do plan a trip I will do everything I can to advise you of what is available while you are around. We will even make sure there is room for your lawn chair in our circle.

When you drive from the end of the pavement out on the salt, it will get everywhere, It's very hard to get the underbody clean, if not your car will start to corrode in all the cracks and crevices in a few years, There is usually brine a few inches below the surface, that keeps the surface cool, better for racing tires. it will coat everything. sometimes there are a couple guys with a pressure washer that will clean your car for a few bucks before you can get it up on a hoist for real cleanup. Best to drive slow on the salt so you don't throw so much on the chassis.

Ant, I agree with John L and everyone, but some food for thought. I went to the "Frog Follies" car show more than 10 years ago, and I go every year. I wouldn't miss it. It is a 3 day show and participants don't go there to be judged, they go there for the fellowship. Over 5000 of your close friends at the same place at the same time. It is like a family reunion ONLY FUN! There are no mirrors or stantions and you have to drive your car to go eat and go to the hotel. It is dusty, and always 90 degrees hot with high humidity. But it is the most fun I have ever had. I shouldn't be allowed to have so much fun. My point is don't generalize and rule out something. Keep an open mind.

I have to say that the high end indoor car shows with the mirrors and near perfect (there is no such thing as perfect) cars up on pedestals have their place, and those people who do it aren't evil, and you can find the same comradery as you do at the burger joint drive-in on Friday nights.

Having only done it a few times I don't have much experience, but I found that it was darn interesting and I have respect for those people, not contempt. They are doing something they love with cars just as anyone else. Yes it takes a lot more money, and I understand how they can seem high brow or something like that, but they are really just like any other car nut. And many, MANY of them are showing their street car, their very nice street car only once or once in a while just like any of us may do (I don't have that nice of a car these days, but the time will come again).

Yes there are a few of these cars that are CRAZY high dollar ($250K+ is VERY common) but these guys are often old car nuts that had "common" cars that now have piles of bucks to build something super amazing and detailed down to the inside of the glove box, they can afford it and they do it just as many of us would if we hit the lotto.

While spending the day there on set up day, it really is a neat experience and you meet all kinds of people. You will see the near perfect cars come in out of closed trailers with plastic over their tires so they don't get dirty, and you will see nice drivers that get driven to the show and then the guys spend the whole day cleaning them up.

Is there politics, heck yes there is, just like at any event that is "judged" by someone. I was a boxer, one of the sports that is judged, and I have told all my kids not to do it, get into sports that have a clear and defined winner. It is always easier with a clear and defined winner like in a drag race. But if you don't take it too seriously, and understand when the guy wins over you who's car may not be as nice, he has shown cars at that show maybe for years, he has earned money for the promotor being ticket buyers come in to see those cars, and he is known, you are going to be more forgiving to someone you know and like, it's only human nature and most of us would he damn hard pressed to over come it, it's human nature.

Like I said, it's different, and I personally being a detail nut love them, I love those crazy detailed cars. And I loved showing them with waxing the underside of the floor and frame and all, mirrors, carpet under it, display goodies, yes even the fence. It's just a different kinda show, and a knockout to be a part of a few times like I have. But I honestly could see getting hooked on it real easy.

Whistler, The Frog Follies is a drive to, drive in, street event. I have always wanted to go but have not made it yet. I would never discourage anyone from going to the Frog Follies, Goodguys event, or NSRA event. I like them all.

Brian, I do not have contempt for the show circuit guys. They are doing their own thing and more power to them. I love to go and look. I just don't want to participate. As you said yourself, at the car show there are winners and loosers. There is no looser at the Frog Follies. When you go to a show that draws 2500-3500 cars you are going for the fun of the weekend. Not to compete.

The folks that do love the show car circuit, as you say, may spend 250,000 dollars to build a top notch show car and if they are successful will have a first place car for one year only. Once the car has made the circuit for one year it becomes old hat and is no longer a contender.

None of what I am saying is intended to make car shows bad or showing your car bad. My only purpose here is to make it clear that street events and formal car shows are different areas of the car hobby. All are good but.......In my opinion, those of us on the street get a whole lot more fun for our money.

Brian, I do not have contempt for the show circuit guys. They are doing their own thing and more power to them. I love to go and look. I just don't want to participate. As you said yourself, at the car show there are winners and loosers. There is no looser at the Frog Follies. When you go to a show that draws 2500-3500 cars you are going for the fun of the weekend. Not to compete.

The folks that do love the show car circuit, as you say, may spend 250,000 dollars to build a top notch show car and if they are successful will have a first place car for one year only. Once the car has made the circuit for one year it becomes old hat and is no longer a contender.

None of what I am saying is intended to make car shows bad or showing your car bad. My only purpose here is to make it clear that street events and formal car shows are different areas of the car hobby. All are good but.......In my opinion, those of us on the street get a whole lot more fun for our money.

John L

I'm sorry John, I didn't mean to pick anyone's comments out I was speaking in generalities, a lot of car guys look down on the car show guys "Trailer queens" and all. And I agree with your comments, I just wanted to toss out there that there is a good side to them too.

I'm sorry John, I didn't mean to pick anyone's comments out I was speaking in generalities, a lot of car guys look down on the car show guys "Trailer queens" and all. And I agree with your comments, I just wanted to toss out there that there is a good side to them too.

Brian

You owe me no apology. I was not offended in any way and totally agree with you. I was just trying to make myself clear as to what I meant by "car show".

I have nothing against someone that has a Trailer queen... They pick that choice to have them... If that's what they like then I'm happy for them,, I will have one too.. My C-CAB will most likely be one,, I'm building it for the show circuit... Don't get me wrong,, I WILL DRIVE IT... Just not as much as any of my other cars.. Didn't build it for that....

I will also be doing a few bubble top cars right after the C-Cab is done.. Been wanting to do that for years and I found the top's... So that will happen...Build what you like.. You want to do show's.. Build a show car, You want to ride,, Build a nice street car,, There is a difference... I build art,, And sometimes that fall's into the trailer queens... So be it..It's all in what you like.

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to NEW INTERIORS For This Useful Post:

Car shows are fine. Some like sitting there all day hoping they'll win a trophy. I personally prefer the cruise in that doesn't even offer trophies. I come when I want, leave when I'm bored, and use the money I'd spend donating to someone's trophy chase to gas in my ride.
We have a monthly get together on Sunday morning to eat breakfast, talk cars, and see friends. It goes on all year, and I try to drive one of my rods every month, regardless of weather. If it's too ugly, I still go with my daily driver '69 Suburban.
I also hit the summer weekly cruise every week, and it costs $5 that goes to charity. They do give a few trophies, but I am usually busy visiting or talking cars, so wouldn't go to the podium if I did get a trophy.
I really built my cars to enjoy, and my idea of enjoying a car is driving it, so sitting doesn't give me much enjoyment.

Car shows are fine. Some like sitting there all day hoping they'll win a trophy. I personally prefer the cruise in that doesn't even offer trophies. I come when I want, leave when I'm bored, and use the money I'd spend donating to someone's trophy chase to gas in my ride.
We have a monthly get together on Sunday morning to eat breakfast, talk cars, and see friends. It goes on all year, and I try to drive one of my rods every month, regardless of weather. If it's too ugly, I still go with my daily driver '69 Suburban.
I also hit the summer weekly cruise every week, and it costs $5 that goes to charity. They do give a few trophies, but I am usually busy visiting or talking cars, so wouldn't go to the podium if I did get a trophy.
I really built my cars to enjoy, and my idea of enjoying a car is driving it, so sitting doesn't give me much enjoyment.

bingo!
thats just how i feel.
i drive mine almost everyday.
the cruises are the most fun by far
every once in a while the missus will say.
go fire up the 27 and lets go get breakfast.

bingo!
thats just how i feel.
i drive mine almost everyday.
the cruises are the most fun by far
every once in a while the missus will say.
go fire up the 27 and lets go get breakfast.

When we lived in Knoxville, my wife would occasionaly ask if I was in the mood for a candied apple?

What that meant was "lets put the top down on the car and take the old river road to the Kandy Makers in Pigion Forge. It was about an hour and twenty minute ride. On a warm summer night with the moon and stars life just couldn't get any better.

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